Shoe.



No. 979,979. PATENTED FEB. 25, 1909. 9991091711.

SHOE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1909.

G mom a THE NORRIS PETERS co., WASHINGTON, u c

UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL N. NORTH, OF RISING SUN, INDIANA.

SHOE

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, SAMUEL N. NORTH, citizen of the United States, residing at Rising Sun, in the county of Ohio and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and I useful Improvements in Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction of shoes and foot wear in general of that type which are designed to be opened at l the rear to admit of the introduction of the foot of the wearer. The invention resides principally in the provision of novel means for reinforcing the counter portions of the shoe whereby the same are securely supported in position.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for. effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a low cut shoe embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a rear end view of the shoe, the parts being arranged in the positions assumed thereby preliminary to introducing the foot;.Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the rear or heel portion of the shoe, bringing out more clearly the reinforcement of the counter; Fig. 4 is a detail view of the catch.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same 1 reference characters.

Specifically describing the invention as illustrated, the numeral 1 indicates the front portion of the shoe, the numeral 2 the sole, the numeral 3 the heel, and the numeral 4 l the counter. The front or vamp portion 1 I may be made of a continuous piece of material, as it is not split in the usual way and provided with the flaps ordinarily connected by lacing or buttons. The front portion of the shoe is therefore designed to snugly fit over the front portion of the foot and the elimination of the necessity for the provision 1 of lacings or buttons is advantageous, particularly from the standpoint of use of the i article by men, in that trouser cuffs will fit l Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 25.1906. Serial N5. 332.029.

' at its opposite ends against the outer Patented Feb. 25, 1908.

nicely about the shoe at the front and can not catch upon the securing means such as ordinarily provided at this part of the article.

To admit of introduction of the foot into the shoe, the rear end thereof is adapted to be opened, and the structure by which the above may be accomplished resides in the peculiar form of the counter 4. Said counter 4 is split at the rear end of the shoe and forms side counter sections 5 adapted to be brought together at the rear vertical edges thereof and reinforced at said edges by means, preferably, of small frame pieces 6. The frame pieces 6 have a suitable pivotal connection with the heel portion of the shoe and they may be separated readily by being forced apart thereby spreading the counter sections 5 and permitting of ready introduction of the foot into the shoe from the rear end. The counter sections 5 are adapted to be held closed, or with the rear vertical edges thereof in contact by means of suitable fastening means consisting preferably of a catch plate 7 attached to one of the counter sections 5 and adapted to engage with a catch member 8 applied to the other of said sections 5. When the two members 7 and 8 are connected with one another, the counter 4 of the shoe is closed at the rear and is virtually the same in general form as the counter of the ordinary shoe, eXcept that it is not continuous at the rear extremity. To reinforce the counter 4, a U shape reinforcing strip 9 of metal is preferably employed, the arms of which extend above the heel and up sides of the counter sections 5, being suitably attached to the latter and flush with the outer surface thereof to secure a neat article. This strip 9 of spring metal also serves to hold the two counter sections normally in a closed position.

Having thus is claimed as new is:

A shoe of the type described having the counter thereof provided at its rear portion with a vertical split, stiffening frame pieces secured to the meeting edges of the vertical split and having the lower ends thereof pivoted at the heel of the shoe, means for locking the counter sections in a closed position, and a U shape reinforcing strip eX- In testimony whereof I affix my signature tending across the heel and having its end in presence of tWo Witnesses. portions pro ect1ng upwardly and secured to T T the counter sections of the shoe upon oppo- SAMUEL BORTH' 5 site sides of the before mentioned split, the said Witnesses:

U shape strip having a spring action serving JOHN W. WVI-IITLOGK,

to hold the counter sections normally closed. IRA L. NORTH. 

